Need post test drive advice on powered tonneau cover

[Prime]

Only changes currently between older and new models is no 12v plug in the frunk, no power tonneau option, and trim behind headrests is plastic not wood (no biggie).

Bed lights and all others are still intact.

Speaking of bed lights. Those have been changed as well. Upper picture original single long led strip changed to singular cheap LEDs lined up (bottom pic).

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[MountainBikeDude]

Speaking of bed lights. Those have been changed as well. Upper picture original single long led changed to singular cheap LEDs lined up (bottom pic).

I forgot to mention that, but figured trying to explain differences of the two without a photo would have lead to confusion. I prefer the newer style, looks less "weathered headlight plastic"

 

[Olsonsolar]

Please somebody come up with a tonneau cover that fits on top of the bed rails. At least then it would be half way weathered resistant. It still floors me that their tonneau ever got into production.

 

[astonius]

Speaking of bed lights. Those have been changed as well. Upper picture original single long led strip changed to singular cheap LEDs lined up (bottom pic).

I don’t think the original design actually made it to any customer deliveries.

 

[WSea]

Please somebody come up with a tonneau cover that fits on top of the bed rails. At least then it would be half way weathered resistant. It still floors me that their tonneau ever got into production.

my tonneau doesn’t leak

 

[Prime]

I don’t think the original design actually made it to any customer deliveries.

I believe they were among the first 1k produced or something like that. Some early orders had them. They were definitely among the first known changes. Doesn’t make a huge diff, just noting it among the other changes.

 

[ironpig]

I think they will phase out the powered tonneau. It's a headache. Maybe they'll do a refresh in a few years with a better design. It's definitely worth it if you can find a truck with a tonneau. There's a ton of them on the used market and sometimes they pop up in the store as well it sounds like.

 

[VSG]

Only changes currently between older and new models is no 12v plug in the frunk, no power tonneau option, and trim behind headrests is plastic not wood (no biggie).

You forgot the 1 magnet vs the original 2 on the frunk bed. Again, no biggie, but it was a change.

My opinion, it sounds like you should buy a used one NOW. It won't cost you any more, you'll be able to enjoy your R1T immediately, and you will be grandfathered in to the tonneau fix.

BTW, most tonneau covers work properly. Mine is perfectly fine after 4 months of daily use. While there is a not-small minority of covers that have problems, chances are the used Rivian you buy will have a working one. And if it doesn't, Rivian will eventually fix it. This is just something to check when you inspect the R1T to plan to buy. If you wait, then I think there is SOME chance that Rivian might discontinue the powered tonneau altogether, but if you you already have a vehicle with one I am confident they will make it work eventually.

 

[goldburger]

Please somebody come up with a tonneau cover that fits on top of the bed rails. At least then it would be half way weathered resistant. It still floors me that their tonneau ever got into production.

We have had a couple of weeks of bad rain in LA and my tonneau had the most minor water intrusion, between the cover and the tailgate. Under normal rain I’d imagine I’d have almost none.

 

[VSG]

"Bad rain" in LA is about the same as we get here in the PNW for about half the year. (JOKE! I know you're having extreme weather now ...) My tonneau protects the bed extremely well, even during a car wash. I won't say it's 100% waterproof like the interior of the truck, because it's not airtight and so it is subject to our not-inconsiderable humidity, but I don't get any running water, standing water, or even observable drips in the bed with the tonneau closed. I have a number of cardboard boxes in there, and I don't see any evidence at all that they have ever been touched by water.

That said, I keep tools etc. in plastic bins, which are more than sufficient to keep the water out (if any should get in) and besides they are super convenient for loading and unloading. The covered bed to me is the equivalent of garage storage - not temperature controlled, not humidity controlled, but no direct exposure to water.

 

[astonius]

This idea that they’re going to redesign and replace existing powered tonneaus yet not bring the redesign back for pending/new orders is such an odd position. There’s a ton of time and cost being dumped into developing a more robust solution. All that to save face with ~15k owners then scrap the idea entirely? Doesn’t make sense.

Removal and partial refund seems more plausible, but I do think they’ll figure out a working solution. When and at what cost to Rivian is anyone’s guess. The price may increase a bit for non-locked reservation holders, but it can’t go much higher than the $3k it was before the drop; the take-rate would be too low.

 

[VSG]

This idea that they’re going to redesign and replace existing powered tonneaus yet not bring the redesign back for pending/new orders is such an odd position.

That's not what I'm saying or expecting, although I'm not ruling out the possibility.

I fully expect that Rivian will continue to support and maintain the existing powered tonneau covers for the warranty period, and that they will do their best to replace the existing powered tonneau covers with an improved design in order to minimize their long-term maintenance liability and to keep this from adversely affecting their brand.

I do not take it as a given that the redesign will be 100% reliable, just that it will cost Rivian a lot less over the next five years of warranty support than the existing design. That is what will drive them to release the redesign.

I expect that if they can't delivery a 100% reliable tonneau cover, they will discontinue the powered tonneau cover. But I also fully expect that the existing tonneau covers will be fully supported because Rivian recognizes that the failure rate of these covers is unacceptably high. A redesign that is significantly more reliable than the current design will save Rivian money in the long run, and that's what the business is all about.

FYI, my tonneau works perfectly fine, and I use it every day. IF it breaks, I will have Rivian fix it. No big deal to me.

 

[astonius]

That's not what I'm saying or expecting, although I'm not ruling out the possibility.

I fully expect that Rivian will continue to support and maintain the existing powered tonneau covers for the warranty period, and that they will do their best to replace the existing powered tonneau covers with an improved design in order to minimize their long-term maintenance liability and to keep this from adversely affecting their brand.

I do not take it as a given that the redesign will be 100% reliable, just that it will cost Rivian a lot less over the next five years of warranty support than the existing design. That is what will drive them to release the redesign.

I expect that if they can't delivery a 100% reliable tonneau cover, they will discontinue the powered tonneau cover. But I also fully expect that the existing tonneau covers will be fully supported because Rivian recognizes that the failure rate of these covers is unacceptably high. A redesign that is significantly more reliable than the current design will save Rivian money in the long run, and that's what the business is all about.

Rivian’s current position is if you have a powered tonneau today, even if it’s currently working flawlessly, you will receive the upgraded one at no charge. That’s a position you take if you believe a redesign is a solution, not a stop-gap for warranty. They wouldn’t proactively replace working tonneaus if they didn’t feel confident in the replacement and were simply trying to make it last 5 years.

Of course this is all with the caveat Rivian’s position could change, simply stating where they stand today.

 

[Firewired]

Thank you all for your advice. I just put a deposit down on one at an out of state car dealer. For anyone that has done it how hard is the ownership transfer process?

 

[astonius]

Thank you all for your advice. I just put a deposit down on one at an out of state car dealer. For anyone that has done it how hard is the ownership transfer process?

Up until a week and a half ago it was super easy, but Rivian changed the rules: https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/...-new-ownership-registration-title-name.11715/

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